Water Nitrate

AUS-TMS-LVG-WNI General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

No specific value — see range
Range: 0.01 to 0.02 mg/L
Optimal Range: 0.01 to 0.02
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: OptimalRange

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 5 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 4 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

A pragmatic benchmark range reflecting this would be 0.01 – 0.02 mg/L NO3-N (or NOx-N).

Metric Definition:

Nitrate-N (NO3-N) or Oxidised Nitrogen (NOx-N) concentration in water.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the best available condition range of nitrate or oxidised nitrogen concentration in water under best-practice livestock grazing.

Justification:

This range aligns with natural background concentrations and regional water quality objectives for high ecological value systems.

Sources (2)

Preview of Water Quality objectives for the region - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment
Water Quality objectives for the region - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment Journal

Water Quality objectives for the region - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

View Source
Preview of www.rrrc.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
www.rrrc.org.au, accessed May 15, 2025, Journal

Sediments and nutrients in north Queensland tropical streams: changes with agricultural development and pristine condition status (Technical Report No. 62, Australian Rainforest CRC, 2006)

View Source

Supporting Sources (2)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of environment.nt.gov.au, accessed May 11, 2025,
environment.nt.gov.au, accessed May 11, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Water Quality objectives for the region - Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

View Source
Preview of The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed August 8, 2025
The impact of nitrate pollution in waterways on freshwater species, accessed August 8, 2025
Direct Evidence Journal

Toxicant default guideline values for aquatic ecosystem protection ...

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Tropical Monsoonal Savannas
  • Land Use Livestock Grazing & Pasture
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type TargetCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 25 Mar 2026

Notes

Higher concentrations indicate departure from natural healthy state; best-practice grazing aims to maintain levels within this range.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TMS-LVG-WNI family.

11.3 mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Active v3
0.019 mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
Point Active v1
— mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
OptimalRange Active v1
2.4 mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Superseded v2
0.05 mg/L Moderate
Livestock Grazing & Pasture · Pristine Reference
MaximumOnly Superseded v1